Who knows what might have happened had Papiss Cissé been sent off for swinging a first-half elbow into Seamus Coleman’s face? Fortunately for Alan Pardew, Craig Pawson, the referee, was looking elsewhere at the time and, shortly afterwards, Cissé’s equaliser set Newcastle United on course for a hugely restorative win.

It left Everton stuck in a disappointing mid-table position and Roberto Martínez ruing bad luck. “There are days when nothing goes in your favour,” said the manager. He had one particular moment in mind. “Elbowing a fellow professional is unacceptable. It should have been spotted. It’s a clear elbow which is trying to hurt someone and those are not actions we want to see on a football pitch.”